The Provisional Regional Council has agreed to a plan to place recyclable waste collection bins at council venues to enhance public awareness of environmental protection. According to the proposal, the bins will be placed at 131 venues including refuse collection points, pleasure grounds, sports grounds, parks and indoor and outdoor recreation centres. The contractor responsible for the waste collection service will deliver sorted waste paper, aluminium cans and plastic bottles from the venues to recyclers. The scheme, approved by the council's ad hoc committee on waste reduction, is expected to start early next year. The council will allocate about $680,000 annually to buy bins and pay for the waste collection service. The committee has also accepted the Environmental Campaign Committee's proposal to provide a free waste-paper collection service for 45 schools until July.
